Inside MRO News Briefs and Contracts, April 2023

Highlights

CFM Expands Its Leap Network

In an effort to bolster its Leap aftermarket partners network, CFM International has added two new MRO companies to provide a full range of services for the narrowbody engine family.

First, Singapore-based ST Engineering’s commercial aerospace division has signed a CFM Branded Service Agreement (CBSA) for Leap 1A and 1B engines. Per the agreement, ST Engineering will provide the full scope of MRO services for Leap engines to operators worldwide from its facility in Singapore, where it conducts repairs on multiple engine types.

ST Engineering first became a provider for the 1A and 1B in 2020, when it started offering quick-turn engine services. It plans to add test-cell capability for the 1B at its Singapore site this year.

U.S.-based StandardAero also has signed a CBSA to provide full overhaul and repair services for Leap 1A and 1B engines. It is the first non-airline MRO provider in the Americas region to sign a CBSA for both engine variants.

StandardAero will support Leap 1A and 1B engines from its 810,000-ft.² facility in San Antonio. It also operates a large test cell on-site, which will provide performance and pass-off testing for the engines.

AAR Acquires Trax

AAR has acquired aircraft MRO and fleet management software provider Trax for approximately $120 million.

Trax provides mobile and cloud MRO software targeting maintenance efficiency, cost reduction and information flow among airlines, lessors and MROs. Two of its core products are eMRO, a web-based enterprise MRO software, and eMobility, which provides a suite of mobile applications, including task cards, digital manuals, electronic logbooks, fleet status reports and warehouse management.

Headquartered in Miami, Trax employs about 110 people and supports more than 5,000 aircraft while providing software to more than 200 airlines, MROs and government aircraft operators in total.

AAR notes that the acquisition will enhance its strategy to offer digital solutions to its aftermarket customers. Additionally, the acquisition provides AAR with opportunities to cross-sell products and services through Trax’s complementary customer base.

LHT Expects Divestment Decision by Mid-2023

After edging closer to pre-crisis work volumes following robust revenues and earnings for last year, Lufthansa Technik (LHT) says it expects a decision related to a partial sale of the company to be made by the middle of this year.

Speaking at its annual press conference broadcast from its Hamburg headquarters on March 7, LHT CEO Soeren Stark said the company expects to decide about a potential sale of part of its business by the middle of this year or in the third quarter at the latest. LHT has been the subject of speculation about a possible sell-off of a stake for the past two years.

Stark did not name what type of investment partner LHT would seek, but he says any decision will not be influenced by the gaining of proceeds by the group. “We are looking for a second shareholder with complementary capabilities that has the potential to make us even stronger,” he says.

Contracts 

321 Precision Conversions was selected by Sichuan Aviation Industry Development to convert an ex-Air Macau Airbus A321-200 to cargo configuration.

Acme Aerospace was selected by Etihad Airways Engineering as an authorized repair station for avionics and batteries.

Aeronautical Engineers has won an Aeronaves TSM contract to convert an eighth Boeing 737-400 to freighter format in May 2023 at Commercial Jet in Dothan, Alabama.

Collins Aerospace was selected by Saudi Aerospace Engineering Industries to provide its FlightSense predictive maintenance program for Saudia’s Airbus A320s and A330s and Boeing 787s.

EirTrade Aviation was selected to manage dis­assembly of two unidentified 10-year-old Boeing 787-8s at Glasglow Prestwick Airport.

GMR Aero Technic was selected by Boeing to set up a Boeing Converted Freighter line at Hyderabad, India.

Joramco was selected by Emirates to operate a Boeing 777 heavy maintenance line between March 2023 and June 2024.

Jordan Airmotive extended its CFM56-3 maintenance deal with SCAT Airlines to include CFM56-7Bs.

Sabena Technics has won a CMA CGM Air Cargo contract for line maintenance of its four A330-200Fs at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Seabury Solutions was selected by Bahamasair to provide its Alkym MRO IT software to support engineering requirements for the airline’s 737s and ATRs.

SWISS-AS was selected by SriLankan to provide AMOS NewGen MRO software.

Contracts source: SpeedNews